It's Mommy Market Time

Are you a mom, or are you planning to become one soon? Patch's March and April calendars are packed with mommy markets and just for you.

It’s a fact of life: Kids grow up. They outgrow toys, clothing, books, strollers, car seats and just about everything you spend your hard-earned money on for them. If your house is cluttered with these things – which may still have lots of life, just not with your children – consider signing up for a vendor table at one of these sales.

Unless you plan to have more children, why not sell some of the things your kids have outgrown? At most sales, you set your own pricing, so you can quickly make some easy money to buy your kids new clothing and toys (or maybe for that trip to Jamaica you’ve been dreaming about.)

Most organizers take a portion of the sale price of each item you sell in exchange for hosting the event and handling all of the marketing and advertising. Some sales don’t even require you to be present – you just drop off your pre-priced items, and they’ll handle the rest.

It’s easier than taking photos, writing descriptions and selling your items online, especially since after the online sale you’d have to ship the item or arrange for it to be picked up. At these kids’ consignment sales, the buyer pays you and takes the item off your hands right then and there.

On the other hand, maybe you’re a new mom or a mommy-to-be. Outfitting your growing family can be a costly undertaking. Consignment sales can be a great place to save on essentials like kids’, baby and maternity clothing; baby equipment, such as car seats, high chairs, swings and strollers; nursery furniture and bedding; games and indoor and outdoor toys; and DVDs all at a fraction of the price of buying new.

Some sales are intended to be fundraisers, in which case you might expect to pay a small admission fee at the door. Others offer free admission. At some sales, vendors accept cash only, but at the larger sales you may be able to pay with major credit cards as well. Supervised children are allowed at most sales, but if you really want to get your shop on, you might want to leave the little ones with Grandma.

From our Patch calendars all across the county, here’s a sampling of the upcoming children’s sales in our area:

• – March 9, Marple Presbyterian Church, Broomall
• – March 17, Upper Gwynedd Fire Co.
• – March 17, Bridle Path Elementary, Lansdale
• – March 24, Trinity Episcopal Church, Ambler
• – April 12-14, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks
• – April 21, Grace Baptist Church, Blue Bell

You can read more about two of these events (the Growing Express kids' consignment sales) .

Do you know of a kids’ consignment sale that we forgot to mention? Or have you made a really incredible find at a past mommy market? Comment below to let us know!